Alton Steel retiree passes on legacy of giving

It’s not often you hear about someone wanting to come back to their job after retirement, but for Leslie Camp, it’s something she’s looking forward to doing this fall.

Camp, who retired Jan. 15 as the executive assistant at Alton Steel for the past nine years, is already planning when she will come back to volunteer her time helping out with the company’s United Way fund-raising campaign.

“I’ve been running the company campaign since 2006 and started it from scratch,” she said. “We’ve had everything from popcorn and a movie theme to motorcycles to even wearing red capes for a superhero theme. We always have a great time with it, and it really makes us feel great to know we’re helping local people in the community.”

Camp was in charge of coordinating 12 meetings over the course of just two weeks each year to cover all of the shifts at Alton Steel for the campaign. A few of the many duties that come with this role include organizing an agency speaker, providing food for breakfast and lunch, coming up with a theme, and coordinating other incentive prizes. Since Camp retired, she passed on the baton to Kasha Windmiller, manager of customer service for Alton Steel, who will now head up their United Way campaign.

“Leslie asked me if I wanted to help out back in 2012, and I loved it,” Windmiller said. “It means a lot to me to be a part of this and to give back. Plus, I enjoy getting to know all of the employees here that I normally wouldn’t get to see otherwise.”

Windmiller will also join United Way’s allocations committee, a group of volunteers who make the tough funding decisions for United Way’s partner agencies. Camp has been a volunteer for United Way’s allocations panel since 2008.

“Being on the allocations panel is a very insightful experience, since you see firsthand where your donations are going and what they are supporting,” Camp said. “It’s so important that we give back and help our community. When you give to United Way, you support so many quality local agencies and know that your donations are going to a good place.”

Windmiller is looking forward to getting this firsthand look at how the company’s donations help the community through United Way. She is also looking forward to having Kathy Scoggins, who has taken Camp’s place as executive assistant, as a partner in helping lead the campaign. Scoggins will assist Windmiller with any items related to running the campaign and making it a fun event for everyone.

“Before this year, I had always participated in the campaign as a donor but never actually helped run it,” Scoggins said. “We know that United Way is such a good steward of the money we have given, and this makes me proud to be getting even more involved in helping lead the campaign.”

Scoggins had worked for 10 years in Alton Steel’s marketing department but has now fully transitioned to the executive assistant position. She is thankful for Camp’s leadership and example she set in the role.

“She’s been a great mentor,” Scoggins said. “Her passion is Alton and helping this community, and I’m honored to be taking her place.”

In addition to continuing to help with the United Way campaign, Camp’s post-retirement plans are varied and not officially set in stone, she said.

“The plans will definitely include volunteer work and time with family and grandchildren, but other than that, there’s nothing specific yet,” Camp said.